Fisher rounded off 2013 with a valuable win at home against Greenwich Borough on Saturday although it wasn’t until second half stoppage time that the Fish were able to grab the points.
The match was a scrappy affair, with both sets of defenders throwing in some solid tackles, and neither side could really settle in to a passing game. The first real chance of the game fell to Junior James who got his shot past the keeper, only to see it hit the far post before Greenwich Borough goalkeeper Jack Kelly saved the follow up effort.
Next it was Fisher custodian Billy Hensman’s turn to pull off a great flying save when Borough newbie Stuart Zanone unleashed a powerful shot.
Fisher started to settle down, began to produce the fluent passing game that supporters have become accustomed to, and threatened Greenwich on numerous occasions but were unable to break down a determined defence. Jack Kelly pulled off a couple of great saves, the first, plucking a deep cross from Piers Hanifan out of the air, the second, tipping a superb looping shot over the bar.
The referee brought the first half to a close with the score line reading 0-0.
The visitors had the first chance of the second half, but Harvey Hanifan rescued the Fish with a well-timed sliding block to send the shot that had beaten Hensman behind for a Greenwich corner, which was cleared with ease.
Fisher bossed the half in midfield with Billy Walton, Danny Maguire and Harry Draper each enjoying a good game. Although on the whole Fisher defended well throughout the game, there were times that they could be considered a little lucky as Greenwich continued to search for a goal. Hensman then pulled of a great low save to stop a powerful long range effort to keep the scores level, while Tom Carr cleared a goalbound effort behind for a corner with Hensman beaten.
The visitors’ efforts went unrewarded and looked like it would be a similar story for Fisher as Jack Kelly pulled off a few good saves and the defence dealt with Fisher’s attacks well.
Just as it looked like the game would end goalless, in the second minute of stoppage time, Junior James broke through but Kelly saved at his feet. As Fisher went to follow-up the referee sounded his whistle and awarded Fisher a penalty for a trip. Danny Maguire stepped up, calmly dispatched his shot, sending Kelly the wrong way, and Fisher were ahead.
Just minutes later, after a couple of bookings for time wasting, Fisher nearly scored again but the long drive went wide of the far post.
Overall, a solid team performance from the Fish, who end 2013 with 15 points which moves them up to 13th in the SCEFL (as Sevenoaks Town and Canterbury City did not play). Next weekend (January 4th) Fisher travel to Sevenoaks Town in the SCEFL (3pm kick off), before welcoming Canterbury City in the Macron Cup on Monday 6th January, 7.45 kick off.
FISHER SQUAD- BILLY HENSMAN, AARON SEALES, PIERS HANIFAN, HARVEY HANIFAN, TOM CARR, BILLY WALTON, HARRY DRAPER, JUNIOR JAMES (MIKE DAMAROLA), STEVEN ITA (KIERON CAMPBELL), TROY ABBEY (JUNIOR FATAI). UNUSED SUB: SHAQUILLE RICHARDS
